Pregnant women may be offered flu vaccinations

Pregnant women could be offered the flu jab to protect themselves and their unborn babies from next year.

Government advisers have called for all pregnant women in England to be vaccinated after research showed that influenza rates fell by more than half after expectant mothers were given the vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) originally recommended in October 2006 that all pregnant women be given the vaccine, but ministers were concerned about the cost of such a scheme, and asked it to re-examine existing and new research.

Last week the New England Journal of Medicine published a US study which found that influenza rates among infants born to mothers who were given the jab fell by 63%.

Dr Douglas Fleming, a member of the JCVI's influenza subgroup, said it was "very likely" that pregnant women would be given the injection from next year. He told GP newspaper: "This is just the sort of research that we need to influence Department of Health policy.

"Previously, there had not been a detailed level of evidence to support vaccinating pregnant women."

Fever-linked respiratory illnesses fell by 29% in vaccinated infants and 36% in vaccinated mothers according to the US research.

The Department of Health said: "Influenza vaccine is currently recommended for pregnant women who are in one of the clinical risk groups recommended flu vaccine. JCVI is keeping the issue of flu vaccination and pregnant women under review."

The vaccination programme currently recommends the jab for patients aged 65 and over and those in at-risk groups such people with diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic heart disease.